Mother To Be

That following morning I woke up feeling a little better. The pain had ceased but my stomach still felt like mush. The nurse came in and gave me a bowl of soup to help settle my stomach. To my surprise the soup was excellent and nicely did the trick.

"You feeling alright?" my dad asked for the millionth time.

I sighed, "Yes dad would you relax?"

"I'm sorry honey I'm just worried that's all." He said. "At least some of your color has returned."

I smiled, "See, now that's positive."

He shook his head and continued reading his newspaper. A few minutes later, Bryan walked into the room bringing a smile to my face. He had a bouquet of roses in his hand that seriously reminded me of the ones I got from the stalker but I shook it off. He hugged me and then kissed my forehead before sitting the vase of flowers down on the bedside table.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

I shrugged, "I'm alright I guess."

He smiled and glanced at my dad, "Has the doctor told you anything yet?"

"No but we're hoping that he comes soon so we'll know what's going on."

I leaned my head back onto my pillow and sighed, "With my luck I'll probably have the flu or something…"

They chuckled just before the doctor walked in. I tensed up feeling as though I was about to get a death sentence. The doctor pulled up a stool and had a seat next to my bed.

"Alright Miss. Bautista I've got some questions to ask you first ok?"

I nodded as my father sat up straighter in his chair.

"Can you tell me when your last period was?" he asked.

"About a month and a half ago. I'm due to start next week." I answered truthfully.

He nodded and then sighed, "Well if I were you I wouldn't be expecting another period for about 7 months."

I blinked several times and glanced at my dad for a second. "What are you talking about?"

He glanced at my father and uncle and then back at me, "According to your urinalysis and your blood work you have high levels of hCG in your system."

"What the hell is hCG?" my uncle asked.

"hCG is a pregnancy hormone….you've been pregnant for almost two months Miss. Bautista."

I gasped in disbelief while my father stood to his feet in a rage, "You're pregnant Aria! But I thought I taught you not to have sex until you're married!"

I sighed as my uncle got up and left the room.

"Gentlemen please remain calm." The doctor said. "It's very important if you don't lose your cool with her in this stage of her pregnancy. Any amount of stress can be harmful to her and the baby."

"I don't fucking believe this…who's the father Aria?" my father asked.

I turned away from him, still stricken with shock and fear from my father's outburst.

"Answer me young lady…." He said.

I folded my arms. "It's just some guy from school. I haven't seen him since that night."

My father growled in a rage, "Aria Renee Bautista….if you don't tell me the fucking truth I swear to God I'll cut you off from this family completely!"

"Mr. Bautista please relax," the doctor said as I began to cry. "You really need to remain calm."

"Don't tell me how to talk to my daughter. She doesn't need to have a child anyway!" he snapped.

I looked at him in raged, "How dare you sit here and treat me like a child! I'm a grown ass woman dad and I WILL be having this baby!"

"My dad shook his head, "Just tell me who the father is Aria…tell me right now."

I stared into my father's eyes wishing I could tell him telepathically but I knew it was impossible. My bottom lip began to tremble as I saw Mark's smiling face in my mind and then my father smashing it to pieces.

"Mark….the father is Mark." I said before breaking down into tears.

My father's face went pale before sighed and pulled me into his chest. "Oh Aria, I'm so sorry…honey calm down ok? I didn't mean to yell at you like that…calm down so we can talk about this."

I wiped my eyes as the doctor turned and left the room. My dad sat on my bed and held my hand as I calmed myself down. He wrapped one arm around my shoulders and gently rubbed my arm.

"No wonder you didn't think he really killed your mother…you're in love with him aren't you?" he asked.

I nodded and wiped my eyes. "I love him so much but I can't help but think he was set up."

"You don't think I set him up do you?" he asked.

"Did you?" I asked as I looked up into his face.

He shook his head, "No Aria. I mean sure I was upset about how close he and your mom were, but I would never hurt your mother and I would never do something like that to anyone."

I nodded seeing the sincerity in his eyes. I should have known that my father wasn't behind such a crime like that. He wouldn't have been able to live with himself if he murdered my mom. I needed to find some more clues and I needed to start with him.

"How far away was the school Mark went to after high school?" I asked.

My dad sighed, "About an hour away from where we use to live why?"

"What time did you go over to mom's that day you found her?" I asked.

"Around 9:30pm." He said. "Why?"

I turned away from him for a moment. "How did you know that Mark had stopped by to see her."

"Because Bryan told me he did." He answered. "Your uncle was at her house at 6 trying to help her cook."

"So then you lied to police when you told them that she told you that Mark was at the house." I said.

He nodded with a sigh, "Yeah…I was so enraged that I never even thought to rethink everything he told me."

I nodded, "Did you ever get to read mom's autopsy report?"

"No…I didn't think it mattered." He said.

"Well It might dad. For all you know there could be a clue in there that proves that Mark is innocent. He couldn't have did this."

"So then why run you away from him?" my dad asked in wonder.

I looked off into space finally seeing the truth, "To draw out the real killer…the real killer could be after me or you."

He nodded, "Alright…I'll see if I can get your mother's autopsy report and I'll leave it in your room before I leave tomorrow morning."

I raised my eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

"I've got a fight in Miami tomorrow night. I was supposed to leave this morning but you were sick. You're always first in my life honey."

I smiled and then hugged him, "Thanks so much for listening to me."

"No problem honey, let's just hope you're right."

I nodded with a smile and then got up so I could get dressed and go home. The entire drive I kept my hand on my belly feeling so happy to soon become a mother. I just hoped that the father wasn't a guilty man.